RESUMO Petróleo e gás, mineração, estações de tratamento de água, entre outros, são exemplos de instalações que podem apresentar Materiais Radioativos de Ocorrência Natural. Neste estudo, objetivou-se avaliar a presença de séries radioativas naturais, especialmente as de 238U e 232Th nas estações de tratamento de água da cidade de Poços de Caldas/MG. Foram investigadas as presenças dessas séries em amostras de água bruta, de água tratada, no lodo dos decantadores e nas incrustações das calhas Parshall, além dos principais insumos utilizados. As amostras de lodo, insumos e incrustações foram submetidas à técnica de espectrometria gama para a determinação dos radionuclídeos 226Ra, 228Ra e 210Pb. Para U e Th, realizou-se espectrofotometria ultravioleta-visível, e para os valores de Alfa e Beta totais foram realizadas separação radioquímica e posterior contagem Alfa e Beta total. Os resultados indicaram que as amostras de águas estão em conformidade com a Portaria de Consolidação n° 5 de 2017 do Ministério da Saúde. Dadas as diferentes concentrações de atividade dos radionuclídeos no lodo, não foi possível afirmar a mesma ordem de magnitude com o sedimento das captações. Entretanto, os valores estão consonantes com o estabelecido pelo conselho da União Europeia para Materiais Radioativos de Ocorrência Natural. Nas incrustações foram identificados teores de 1.192 Bq.kg-1, 1.704 Bq.kg-1 e 301 Bq.kg-1 para 226Ra, 228Ra e 210Pb, respetivamente. Já para os insumos Sulfato de Alumínio (Al4(SO4)3) e Hidróxido de Cálcio Ca(OH)2 não foram identificadas atividades relevantes. Os resultados obtidos no estudo podem servir como indicativos da necessidade de uma avaliação mais detalhada sobre a questão radiológica em foco, em relação ao abastecimento público de águas.

ABSTRACT Oil and gas, mining, among others, are examples of facilities where naturally occurring radioactive materials can be found. This study aims to evaluate the presence of natural radioactive series, especially those of 238U and 232Th, in the water treatment plants of Poços de Caldas City, Minas Gerais. The presence of these series was investigated in samples of raw water, treated water, sludge from decanters, and scale from Parshall gutters. The sludge, input, and scale samples were submitted to the gamma spectrometry technique to determine the 226Ra, 228Ra, and 210Pb radionuclides. For U and Th, ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry was performed, and for the alpha and beta total values, radiochemical separation and subsequent alpha and beta total counts were performed. The results indicate that water samples are within the Ministry of Health Ordinance n° 5 (2017). Due to the different concentrations of radionuclide activity in the sludge, it was not possible to affirm the same order of magnitude with the sediment from the catchments. However, the values are in accordance with those established by the European Union Council for Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials. In the scale, the contents of 1192, 1704, and 301 Bq kg−1 were identified for 226Ra, 228Ra, and 210Pb, respectively. In the inputs of aluminum sulfate and calcium hydroxide, no relevant activities were identified. The results obtained in the study can serve as an indicative regarding the need for a more detailed evaluation of the radiological issue in question concerning public water supplies.

Resumo As condições de cultivo são fatores determinantes que afetam a qualidade das flores de corte. Diante disso, objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar o crescimento vegetativo, floração e vida de vaso de variedades de gladíolos comerciais no semiárido brasileiro, sob diferentes condições de sombreamento. Duas variedades de gladíolos (Jester e Rose Friendship) foram cultivadas em duas condições: sol pleno e 70% de sombreamento. Avaliou-se a biometria em 60 dias após o plantio e a taxa de crescimento da cultura aos 15-30, 30-45 e 45-60 dias para as variáveis: número de perfilhos, diâmetro do colo, número de folhas e altura da planta. Após 45 dias, avaliou-se a massa fresca, massa seca e conteúdo relativo de água total da parte área e da parte radicular das plantas. Após a colheita, as hastes foram mantidas em temperatura de 22±3 °C e umidade relativa (UR) de 60%. A cada dois dias, realizou-se avaliação visual, além de avaliação do pH da solução, variação no volume de água e perda de massa fresca. O cultivo com 70% de sombreamento resultou em maior acúmulo de biomassa na parte aérea das plantas de gladíolos, maior diâmetro do colo e altura. A variedade Rose Friendship resultou em maior translocação de massa seca para a parte aérea das plantas. Isso resultou em maior altura. Por outro lado, as hastes de gladíolos provenientes do cultivo nas condições de pleno sol resultaram em maior vida de vaso: 10 dias em condições de conservação a 22±3 °C e UR 60%.

Abstract Cultivation conditions are determining factors that affect the quality of cut flowers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vegetative growth, flowering and vase life of commercial gladiolus cultivars under different shading conditions in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Two cultivars of gladiolus (Jester and Rose Friendship) were grown under two conditions: full sun and 70% shade. Biometrics were evaluated 60 days after planting and the growth rate of the crop was evaluated at 15-30, 30-45 and 45-60 days for the variables: number of tillers, stem diameter, number of leaves and plant height. After 45 days, the fresh weight, dry weight and total relative water content of the area and root parts of the plants were evaluated. After the harvest, the stems were kept at a temperature of 22±3 °C and relative humidity (RH) of 60%. Visual assessment, pH of the solution, variation in the volume of water and loss of fresh mass were measured every two days. Cultivation with 70% shading resulted in greater accumulation of biomass in the aerial part of gladiolus plants, greater neck diameter and height. The Rose Friendship cultivar underwent a greater translocation of dry matter to the aerial part of the plants, resulting in greater height. On the other hand, the gladiolus stems from cultivation under full sun conditions resulted in longer vase life, 10 days under conservation conditions at 22±3 °C and RH 60%.

RESUMO Objetivou-se, no presente trabalho, monitorar e identificar precipitações erosivas e as perdas de solo (PSs) por meio de parcelas experimentais instaladas na Sub-Bacia do Córrego do Gigante, calibrar o modelo Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) em sua versão encosta, tendo como base os resultados obtidos nas parcelas, e aplicá-lo na área da sub-bacia, para estimativa das PSs por erosão hídrica. O regime pluvial no período de estudo apresentou elevado grau de erosividade e de concentração, pois 57,3% dos eventos foram erosivos, dos quais, os quatro de maior magnitude, participaram com 47,2% da erosividade anual. As áreas contempladas pelas interações entre classe de solo, declividade (D) e uso de solo, nas parcelas experimentais, totalizaram 174,32 ha (50% da área da sub-bacia), cujos valores obtidos resultaram em PS média ponderada de 0,623 t ha-1 ano-1, e foram referência no ajuste do modelo WEPP na versão encosta, com estimativa de 0,651 t ha-1 ano-1. A aplicação do modelo sobre uma superfície com 93,0% de abrangência da sub-bacia resultou em uma estimativa de 0,802 t ha-1 ano-1 para a taxa de PS. As áreas de solo exposto, embora participando com apenas 7,9% da área da sub-bacia, produziram 85,1% das PSs estimadas, o que, por outro lado, reflete a influência positiva da cobertura vegetal na diminuição da erosão hídrica. Simulando a implantação de cobertura sob a forma de campo/pastagem e/ou reflorestamento, nas áreas de solo descoberto, as taxas de PS na sub-bacia reduziriam significativamente para 0,215 t ha-1 ano-1.

ABSTRACT The objective of the present work was to monitor and identify erosive precipitations and monitor soil losses through experimental plots installed in the Córrego do Gigante sub-basin, to calibrate the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model, in its slope version, based on the results obtained in the plots, and apply it to the sub-basin area to estimate soil losses due to water erosion. The rainfall regime during the study period showed high degrees of erosivity and concentration, since 57% of the events were erosive, of which, the four most erosive events corresponded to 47.2% of the annual erosivity. The areas covered by the interactions between soil class, slope, and land use, in the experimental plots, totaled 174.32 ha (50% of the sub-basin area), whose values obtained resulted in a weighted average loss of 0.623 t ha-1 year-1, which were a reference in the adjustment of the WEPP model in the hillside version, with an estimate of 0.651 t ha-1 year-1. The application of the model on a surface with 93.0% coverage of the sub-basin resulted in an estimate of 0.802 t ha-1 year-1 for the soil loss rate. The exposed soil areas, although accounting for only 7.9% of the sub-basin area, produced 85.1% of the estimated soil losses, which, on the other hand, reflects the positive influence of vegetation cover in the decrease of water erosion. Simulating the implementation of cover in the form of field/pasture and/or reforestation in the areas of bare soil significantly reduced the rates of soil losses in the sub-basin to 0.215 t ha-1 year-1.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignances. In epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), epithelial cells switch to mesenchymal-like cells exhibiting high mobility. This migratory phenotype is significant during tumor invasion and metastasis.Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of the EMT markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin in OSCC.Material and Methods : Immunohistochemical detection of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin was performed on 20 OSCC samples. Differences in the expression of each protein at the invasive front (IF) and in the central/superficial areas (CSA) of the tumor were assessed. Differences in the expression of each protein at the IF of both histologically high- and low-invasive OSCCs were evaluated. Associations among expression of proteins at the IF were assessed. Correlations between the expression levels of each protein at the IF and the tumor stage and clinical nodal status were also evaluated.Results : Reduced expression of E-cadherin was detected in 15 samples (75%). E-cadherin expression was reduced at the IF when compared to the CSA and in high-invasive tumors when compared to low-invasive tumors. All samples were negative for N-cadherin, even though one sample showed an inconspicuous expression. Positive expression of vimentin was observed in 6 samples (30%). Nevertheless, there was no difference in vimentin expression between the IF and the CSA regions or between the low- and high-invasive tumors. Furthermore, no association was observed among protein expression levels at the IF. Finally, no correlations were observed between each protein’s expression levels and tumor stage or clinical nodal status.Conclusions : Reduced E-cadherin expression at the IF and its association with histological invasiveness suggest that this protein is a noteworthy EMT marker in OSCC. Although vimentin was also detected as an EMT marker, its expression was neither limited to the IF nor was it related to histological invasiveness.